U4 high pitch noise during operation?

[singlefished]

I went down that path a couple of days ago when I installed the HDD & noticed the fan.

Hi Dennis,

Haha, what a minefield searching for fan specs!!!! I just went looking and thought I hit gold with 1688.com and Google translate ~ no luck though....

I think I may have been lucky with the fan I needed for my TV..... I knew the fan was going when I heard the telltale bird sounding squeak!

I had to follow a long trail of breadcrumbs to get the right fan:

First found the Pioneer Workshop manual that had the part number listed
Then went searching and found the Pioneer part number was actually pre assembled with fan/frame/fixings
Stumbled upon an Indian website with second hand pioneer spares salvaged from old TVs
Their listing had some good photos that showed the make and model number of the fan inside the assembly
Went searching for the part and same problem..... numerous configurations with different amount of cables, sensors, connector types, etc.... The manufacturer did specify expected life span, air flow, speeds, etc.
Found that the fan had been out of production for 10 years
Luckily it must have been a common fan as there were plenty on eBay with all the numerous configurations available even after so long
Found the right configuration of cable length and connection type from a UK seller ~ much more expensive than China suppliers with similar fans but different cable/connection config
Popped open the lid of the TV's media receiver that houses the fan to double check what I was looking at was the same thing before buying (old plasma TV with analogue tuner,HDMI, composite and speaker connection in a separate box so easy to get into)
Made the purchase and waited a month for it to arrive.....
The broken fan stopped squeaking and died 2 days before the new fan arrived..... Lucky!

[stu_h]

My U4 just asked to update software, and this has fixed the issue completely.

I had appplied the quick fix posted here and it was quiet, and after the firmware update , it rebooted and you hear the high pitched boise for a few seconds, and then gone.



same occurs each time it boots now . noise for about 10 seconds, and then silence.

well done on a quick fix

[peteru]

Yes, I figured out how to get a workaround in place while we wait for the low level driver fix.

I figured out that this was high enough priority to push out on the production feed so that all U4 users would benefit.

[graeme2]

Just updated mine also, and the whine has now gone. As Stu_H mentioned, it does start, but after approx 10 secs stops.

Thank you Peter.

[marcuskmt]

I too have this electronic humming noise in standby mode.

I have not updated the firmware yet but will try so. I hope it fixes it.

What could be wrong that the firmware fixed?

[prl]

...
What could be wrong that the firmware fixed?

The fan is variable speed. The speed control is by rapidly switching its supply voltage at a fixed frequency but variable duty cycle (pulse width modulation of the supply). The switching induces vibration at the switching frequency in some part of the fan or its circuitry.

The temporary firmware fix is to run the fan at full speed where its power supply is continuous - no vibration at the switching frequency, so no high-pitched noise.

[marcuskmt]

...
What could be wrong that the firmware fixed?

The temporary firmware fix is to run the fan at full speed where its power supply is continuous - no vibration at the switching frequency, so no high-pitched noise.

You call it a temporary fix. Is there a permanent solution coming?

[prl]

...
What could be wrong that the firmware fixed?

The temporary firmware fix is to run the fan at full speed where its power supply is continuous - no vibration at the switching frequency, so no high-pitched noise.

You call it a temporary fix. Is there a permanent solution coming?

I know that peteru is working on one. I don't know what form it will take, or even if a better fix is feasible in firmware. There's a known hardware fix.

[marcuskmt]

So I've applied the firmware update and whilst the electrical humming noise has gone, the noisy fan noise is now evident!!!

I wouldnt call it a "fix", just a change of noise.

What is the hardware fix? Could I do it because it's very annoying!

[MrQuade]

What is the hardware fix? Could I do it because it's very annoying!

The hardware fix that was mentioned earlier was for when the PWM was active, but now the fan receives a constant voltage, so that fix is not relevant at this time.

To slow the fan down, you'd need to whack a resistor (fixed or variable) in series with the fan to drop its operating voltage.

Or just wait for the proper software fix to arrive and take it from there.

[IanB]

The hardware fix was to place a capacitor across the fan power connector, 100uF is probably enough, 1000uF was what Peter had to hand and successfully tried.

[HarryHoudini]

Yes, I realise putting the U4 into a normal standby rectifies the problem of it not waking from standby to do recordings but it is not a suitable permanent fix for me as I do not consider the normal standby on the Beyonwiz PVR's to be a true standby function. Standby should only use a few watts of power at most and the only way the Beyonwiz PVR's can do this is Deep Standby/Shutdown.

I bought the U4 for doing recordings only. It will not be used for general TV watching and will not be needed most of the time we are watching TV, so I would like it to be in Deep Standby when it is not recording or being used to watch a recording.

Regards
Craig

My thoughts exactly as i'm away a lot.

[MrQuade]

Well, you will be happy to know that the latest beta update has been released and addresses both the fan noise issues in a more permanent fashion, and also fixes the waking from standby issue.

Just have patience

[HarryHoudini]

Well, you will be happy to know that the latest beta update has been released and addresses both the fan noise issues in a more permanent fashion, and also fixes the waking from standby issue.

Just have patience

That's good to hear,overall i'm happy with the Unit,everything is working so far.
I got around the 'deep sleep' Bug by turning the Unit on and then setting it to turn off at a specified time(1.00am) so as long as i don;t forget to turn it on everything thing is fine,i haven't had time to check to see if i can set the time for it to turn itself on each day.
Edit...found it in Timers Menu Tonite,turn off and on at specific times.Gradually coming to terms with it features.

Mine is not connected to the Internet so will have to wait for the USB FW down the track.

[adoxa]

Mine is not connected to the Internet so will have to wait for the USB FW down the track.

If you can't wait, use Windows (or can port batch files), and don't mind a bit of back-and-forth: offline upgrade.

[HarryHoudini]

Mine is not connected to the Internet so will have to wait for the USB FW down the track.

If you can't wait, use Windows (or can port batch files), and don't mind a bit of back-and-forth: offline upgrade.

Thanks for tip,no hurry at the moment if the on/off Timers are working.
The Beta will probably be amended a few times before making it to the USB download so happy to wait at this stage.

[MrQuade]

Thanks for tip,no hurry at the moment if the on/off Timers are working.
The Beta will probably be amended a few times before making it to the USB download so happy to wait at this stage.

Well the on timer isn't going to work for you until you apply the online update. The "on timer" acts just like a recording timer as far as the "wake for recording" bug goes.

[HarryHoudini]

Thanks for tip,no hurry at the moment if the on/off Timers are working.
The Beta will probably be amended a few times before making it to the USB download so happy to wait at this stage.

Well the on timer isn't going to work for you until you apply the online update. The "on timer" acts just like a recording timer as far as the "wake for recording" bug goes.

Ok,but it It worked last night,i set the U4 to turn on/off at a specific times(no Rec.) and it did but perhaps it wasn't in deep sleep as the Unit sits behind the TV.Check again Tonite but if that's the case i'm back to turning it on manually as it turns itself off at specified times OK..

[prl]

Thanks for tip,no hurry at the moment if the on/off Timers are working.
The Beta will probably be amended a few times before making it to the USB download so happy to wait at this stage.

Well the on timer isn't going to work for you until you apply the online update. The "on timer" acts just like a recording timer as far as the "wake for recording" bug goes.

Ok,but it It worked last night,i set the U4 to turn on/off at a specific times(no Rec.) and it did but perhaps it wasn't in deep sleep as the Unit sits behind the TV.Check again Tonite but if that's the case i'm back to turning it on manually as it turns itself off at specified times OK..

The problem was with all timers that needed to wake the U4 out of shutdown, and only with timers that woke the U4 out of shutdown.

[pbush1]

Hi, Just received my U4 with inbuilt 1Tb HDD today and allowed it to do a software upgrade by internet immediately during setup. I noticed that on standby (red power light on the front of the unit and dimmed time/date display) there is still a hum/running noise from within - not loud enough to bother me, and I have to put my ear close to hear it, but I expected it to be completely silent during standby, with no noise at all after cooling down. Room temperature is about 24 - 25 deg C. Is this normal for the U4, or should I be contacting BW ? I'm tempted to switch it off at the back unless there is a timer set for when I'm not here.

Thanks for any advice.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Hi, Just received my U4 with inbuilt 1Tb HDD today and allowed it to do a software upgrade by internet immediately during setup. I noticed that on standby (red power light on the front of the unit and dimmed time/date display) there is still a hum/running noise from within - not loud enough to bother me, and I have to put my ear close to hear it, but I expected it to be completely silent during standby, with no noise at all after cooling down.

Go and read page 16 of the U4 manual. Pay attention to the difference between "Standby Mode" and "Shutdown Mode" (aka Deep Standby).
If you have the date/time showing on the front panel then your U4 is in standby, and everything bar the video output is still running.

Even in deep standby, my U4 emits a bit of a rhythmic 'squelch'.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Even in deep standby, my U4 emits a bit of a rhythmic 'squelch'.

An update to my 'squelch' above.
My U4 is in deep standby/shutdown state and is dead quiet now compared to last night when I posted - I suspect when I listened to it last night it had only recently gone to deep standby, and thus still had an excited bundle of nervous energy bedtime thingamies to emit from that AlwaysON doohickey doodad whatchamacallit.

[pbush1]

An update to my 'squelch' above.
My U4 is in deep standby/shutdown state and is dead quiet now compared to last night when I posted - I suspect when I listened to it last night it had only recently gone to deep standby, and thus still had an excited bundle of nervous energy bedtime thingamies to emit from that AlwaysON doohickey doodad whatchamacallit.

All good now, thanks Grumpy

[marcuskmt]

I updated to the standard firmware and instead of the high pitched hum, the fan goes 24/7. This is just as annoying.

I then updated to the beta firmware and the high pitched hum is back when the unit is in operation. This hum may be drowned out in actions scenes, but in dialog, you can hear it.

Will there ever be a firmware that will properly fix this?

[prl]

Could you please post the firmware version? (MENU>Information>About>Revision)

[marcuskmt]

Could you please post the firmware version? (MENU>Information>About>Revision)

20171230133941

[MrQuade]

I updated to the standard firmware and instead of the high pitched hum, the fan goes 24/7. This is just as annoying.

If the U4 is operating, then the fan will be on, not much can be done about that.

20171230133941

So you haven't applied the online updates yet?
The fan noise issue was addressed in the beta update as shown here on Jan 19:
viewtopic.php?f=56&t=12125&start=50#p161680

I am not sure if that particular update has made it to the non-beta feed yet though.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

... I am not sure if that particular update has made it to the non-beta feed yet though.

Should have, peteru had the general release feed match the beta feed state on the evening of 5-Feb.

[marcuskmt]

20171230133941

So you haven't applied the online updates yet?

[/quote]

I just assumed the Beta firmware is newer than the online update and incorportates and improves on the online update fix?

I found that the online fix left the fan on 24/7 which was just as annoying as the high pitch noise.

[MrQuade]

I just assumed the Beta firmware is newer than the online update and incorportates and improves on the online update fix?

I found that the online fix left the fan on 24/7 which was just as annoying as the high pitch noise.

The updates only come through if they are applicable to the firmware you are currently running.
If you install the beta firmware, and you receive an online update alert, it means that there is an update specifically for the beta version you are running.

A new beta USB image has been released as of last night in any case. You can find it here.

I really wish the "beta" firmware would leave beta status already, it is very confusing to novice users. It really isn't a beta any more, and is the only supported firmware version.

[peteru]

I really wish the "beta" firmware would leave beta status already, it is very confusing to novice users. It really isn't a beta any more, and is the only supported firmware version.

Couldn't agree anymore. Maybe you can prod Wiz HQ to make it so!

[MrQuade]

Couldn't agree anymore. Maybe you can prod Wiz HQ to make it so!

I was by no means casting any shade at you over my comment, I am no doubt just feeling the same frustration you are

I had been presuming that WizHQ was waiting for the 17.5 firmware and U4 performance to settle somewhat before undertaking a public announcement. After all I am guessing that a formal firmware update announcement generates a ton of support calls and additional headaches for Beyonwiz to deal with (for those users who don't come to the forums).

[brob2684]

Hi all,

My U4 seems to also seems to make an unexpected sound (not sure how to describe it, a bit of a quiet whine with some clicking; probably different to the whine describe elsewhere) when it is is the deep shutdown state (i.e. only the red light is on). This has been going on for a few weeks. I originally suspected it was related to these other whines, but given everyone else seems happy, I suspect I might be wrong.

I am beginning to doubt it is the fan (but admittedly am no expert) as the unit has been shut down for many hours.

Interestingly, the U4 also feels warm to the touch on the top right corner (about where the antenna inputs are).

I believe the unit is up to date (Menu -> Information -> About -> Revision is 20180202).

I have also turned it on and off again this morning and you can definitely hear the fan and the hard drive turn off, but this other sound still continues...but without the clicking and more quietly. I'm not sure how long it takes for the clicking to start and the noise to get louder. In part, it sounds like the unit is almost still on even though it has been switched off.

Any ideas on what to do about this?

Thanks,
brob2684

[HarryHoudini]

Hi all,

My U4 seems to also seems to make an unexpected sound (not sure how to describe it, a bit of a quiet whine with some clicking; probably different to the whine describe elsewhere) when it is is the deep shutdown state (i.e. only the red light is on). This has been going on for a few weeks. I originally suspected it was related to these other whines, but given everyone else seems happy, I suspect I might be wrong.

I am beginning to doubt it is the fan (but admittedly am no expert) as the unit has been shut down for many hours.

Interestingly, the U4 also feels warm to the touch on the top right corner (about where the antenna inputs are).

Any ideas on what to do about this?

Thanks,
brob2684

Mine is exactly the same in Deep SD,you can hear the quiet whine when everything is turned off,its not the fan,that's off,perhaps the HDD getting residual voltage? ,i don't know,but its there.
Also mine is not warm,its hot, at the RH back where the antenna inputs are and this is when the Unit is in Deep SD,i've connected a USB fan for when the Unit is On and that cools the area down but a problem that needs to be sorted for the long life of the Unit.

[sub3R]

... Also mine is not warm,its hot, at the RH back where the antenna inputs are and this is when the Unit is in Deep SD, ...

Something isn’t right there. When my U4 has been in deep standby for 3 to 4 hours (nothing at all showing on the front panel except the red power indicator) the tuner’s IN/OUT connections & the box itself are at room temperature, they aren’t warm at all.

But my U4 has the latest beta f/w Ver: 17.5, Build: 20180216, Rev: 20180216. That & the previous one or two beta updates have the fix that addresses the wake from deep standby bugs.

It sounds like your U4 is still in normal standby (dim display & red power indicator on the front panel). Either that, or you are possibly checking it too soon after it has been either; ON, or in normal standby, or since it has woken up to do a recording, & it hasn’t had time to cool down. Everything does take a while to come back to room temperature.

[prl]

... Also mine is not warm,its hot, at the RH back where the antenna inputs are and this is when the Unit is in Deep SD, ...

Something isn’t right there. When my U4 has been in deep standby for 3 to 4 hours (nothing at all showing on the front panel except the red power indicator) the tuner’s IN/OUT connections & the box itself are at room temperature, they aren’t warm at all.
...

+1

The U4 on the top of my test "stack" has been in deep standby/shutdown for about 2 hours and is at room temperature - slightly cool to touch, everywhere on the case, including the tuner connectors.

[MrQuade]

Even in normal standby, my U4 tuners are cool to the touch which actually surprised me!

[sub3R]

Even in normal standby, my U4 tuners are cool to the touch which actually surprised me!

That's interesting. I haven’t done much checking of the U4 in normal standby. If the U4’s tuners are cooler than the T2’s tuners in normal standby that would be a big plus.

[prl]

Even in normal standby, my U4 tuners are cool to the touch which actually surprised me!

That's interesting. I haven’t done much checking of the U4 in normal standby. If the U4’s tuners are cooler than the T2’s tuners in normal standby that would be a big plus.

Shortly after posting my last post here (about 20 minutes ago), I put my test U4 into standby. Its tuners remain warm.

[peteru]

its hot, at the RH back where the antenna inputs are and this is when the Unit is in Deep SD

That's not right. Check that you don't have a short somewhere in your antenna wiring. Shutdown U4 (not just standby), disconnect all tuner inputs, including loop cables and see if it cools off or stays hot.

[HarryHoudini]

its hot, at the RH back where the antenna inputs are and this is when the Unit is in Deep SD

That's not right. Check that you don't have a short somewhere in your antenna wiring. Shutdown U4 (not just standby), disconnect all tuner inputs, including loop cables and see if it cools off or stays hot.

Shall do,i checked this Morning and again just now,the Tuner area is warm to hot and U4 has been in Deep SD since Sunday afternoon.Also there is power to the USB ports,they are live in Deep SB,when i first got the machine they turned off in DSB.

Has anyone else got live USB Ports in Deep SB..?

[brob2684]

Mine is definitely warm hours after it has been shutdown (nothing on the screen) and it does sound like something is still operating. I've got a couple of timers running tonight, so I'll try disconnecting the antenna in the next couple of days too and see if that makes a difference.

Edit: meant to say I checked for updates (setup, software manager, check for updates) but got a 'nothing to upgrade' response.

[peteru]

It's important to make a distinction between standby and shutdown (sometimes referred to as deep standby) modes.

It's normal for things to be warm in standby, since in standby everything except for A/V output is still operating as normal.

It's not normal for things to be warm when the unit has been shutdown. In that mode almost everything should be powered down.

[prl]

... nothing on the screen ...

There's nothing on the TV screen in both standby and deep standby. In deep standby there's nothing on the front panel, but in standby the front panel is dimly lit and shows the time.

[HarryHoudini]

It's important to make a distinction between standby and shutdown (sometimes referred to as deep standby) modes.

It's normal for things to be warm in standby, since in standby everything except for A/V output is still operating as normal.

It's not normal for things to be warm when the unit has been shutdown. In that mode almost everything should be powered down.

Yep,got that,it is definitely in Deep Standby,but the area around the Tuners is hot and there is a soft whiney noise of some kind,easy to hear when everything is off late at Night.All that shows is the red touch button on the front,display is dark,takes a minute or more to go into deep standby.
I will disconnect all Antennae Cables Tonite.

[MrQuade]

Shortly after posting my last post here (about 20 minutes ago), I put my test U4 into standby. Its tuners remain warm.

Hmm ok yes, I was a bit hasty. Definitely above room temperature, but not as warm as the T4's ever got.

[brob2684]

... nothing on the screen ...

There's nothing on the TV screen in both standby and deep standby. In deep standby there's nothing on the front panel, but in standby the front panel is dimly lit and shows the time.

Sorry, I meant deep standby with nothing on the front panel.

[HarryHoudini]

Shortly after posting my last post here (about 20 minutes ago), I put my test U4 into standby. Its tuners remain warm.

Hmm ok yes, I was a bit hasty. Definitely above room temperature, but not as warm as the T4's ever got.

OK,disconnected all Antennae cables last night,Tuner area is still warm at 9.00am this morning,the actual connectors(that poke thru the back panel) are hot. Also the HDMI output is still live as it shows on my Sony OLED as connected,usually the various inputs on the TV shows no connection when the device connected is in standby. As i have posted previously the USB ports on mine are live.

Its obviously not in complete shutdown,power is still on the Board for whatever reason.

[peteru]

Have you enabled WOL?